Signal apparatus.



W. E. HARRISON.

SIGNAL APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 3. 1916.-

1,267,407. Patented May 28,1918.

10% WA. 6W

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gpetiflcetion of Letters Patent.

Patented May 28, 1%18.

Application filed November 3, 191,6. Serial No. 129,309.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM EDWARD HARRISON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Union City, in the county of Randolph and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Signal Apparatus; and I do hereby declare the followin to be a full, clear, and exact description 0 the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in signal apparatus, and more particularly to such devices as are adapted for use to indicate to tradesmen the character or quantity of commodities desired by a housekeeper.

The object in view is to facilitate determining by the tradesmen of the character of the signal at a relatively long distance.

With this and further objects in view as will in part hereinafter become apparent and in part be stated, the invention comprises certain novel constructions, combinations and arrangements of parts as subsequently specified and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing the figure is a plan view of an apparatus embodying the features of the present invention.

Referring to the drawing by numerals, 1 indicates a sheet of material, such as of cardboard or sheet of metal, which may be blocked off in any desired number of spaces or blocks 2, 2, leaving acentral space 3 which may be either left blank or used for advertising purposes. Within each block 2 is arranged a number, or other insignia 4: to indicate either the amount or the quallty of the goods or other commodities to be delivered by the tradesmen. A difierent numher 4 will appear, of course, in each one of the blocks 2 from all of the other blocks, and the tradesmen will be able to tell by observin this number, indicated at 4, ust what 1s required of him, it being un erstood, of course, that the uppermost number is the number to be taken by him as his directions. The difliculty experienced with the card 1 when provided merely with the numbers 4 is that the tradesmen must approach the card close enough to observe the number, and it is the object of the present invention to obviate the necessity for such an approach by colorinlg1 the blocks or areas 2 different colors, each aving its own characteristic color preferably of a nature such as will make it easy to observe at a great distance. By this arrangement of coloring the tradesman not only has the color of the particular block 2 which is uppermost as a guide to suggest to him the particular number indicated at 4:, that he is to understand is required, but he will also have the relative arrangement of the other blocks 4 as a further indication of the color'of the block which is uppermost. For example, taking the blocks 2 clockwise about the design as it appears on the drawing, the uppermost block 2 may be considered white, the next block, which is the one outstanding horizontally to the right, may be considered green, the bottom block 2 may be considered black, and the block 2 outstanding horizontally to the left may be considered red. When the tradesmen sees the card displayed with this arrangement of coloring, he will understand that the number a pearing in the up ermost block 2 is to ive his guiding num er. if the number 50 appears as indicated in the drawing, and that number for example is to indicate that fifty pounds of ice are to be delivered, the tradesmen will not be. limited merely to the number 50 as his guide or even to the white color of the block 2 on which the number 50 appears, but will have the help of the colors of all the other blocks in their respective locations. Thus at a glance the tradesmen can tell at a long distance just how much ice, or other commodity, he is to deliver even though he may not be able to see the several numbers indicated at d.

The placard or sheet 1 may be supported in any appropriate way, as by being provided with apertures adjacent its corners to receive a supporting cord or tack, or other appropriate means of suspension.

What I claim is In signaling apparatus, a single display placard blocked off on one side into a series of distinct areas adapted to be simultaneously displayed, and each area being formed with a surface having a difierent color from all of the other areas, the relation of the areas being such with respect to each other that when one of said areas is displayed in a given position alfording the intended meanlng of the signal the relationship of the colors of the other areas cooper- For example, in this block,

ate to aid the observer in recognizing 'the In testimony whereof I aflix my signature location of the governing area, the placard in presence of two witnesses.

having indiciain each area and the indicia WILLIAM EDWARD HARRISON- of the several areas being different from one Witnesses: I 5 an'other and corresponding to the intended ANNA ENNIS,

meaning of the respective colors. ELLA 

